MANILA – Malacañang lambasted Vice President Leni Robredo after the latter said the government should stop its propaganda and focus on the challenges brought by the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque defended the national government’s COVID-19 response by citing the World Health Organization’s (WHO) data, which he said can attest that government’s handling of the pandemic.
The WHO, according to Roque, even ranked the Philippines 32nd among worldwide in terms of COVID-19 caseload and logged 4,777.43 cases per million population (134th in the world).
“Baka magalit ang WHO dahil sinasabi n’yo nagpapakalat ng propaganda. Hindi po. WHO po nagsabi kung nasaan na tayo sa ating COVID-19 response,” Roque said in his virtual press conference.
“Bakit namin paniniwalaan ang ibang pag-aaral samantalang lahat tayo nagtitiwala sa World Health Organization sa panahon ng pandemya. Hindi po propaganda ‘yan. Katotohanan. Buksan ang mata, buksan ang tenga,” he added.
Roque also said that Robredo’s statement aired over her radio program on Sunday was an affront to health workers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is unfair to refer to their work output as propaganda. Huwag naman po,” the Palace spokesperson said.
Robredo ealrlier said the government should focus on improving its pandemic response, stop the propaganda, and learn from countries that have responded well to COVID-19.
“Huwag na tayo sa propaganda. Iyong response dapat, tinutugunan kung paano mare-resolve nang mas maaga. Kasi mas matagal iyong ganito, mas marami tayong mga kababayan na maghihirap,” Robredo was quoted as saying.
The Vice President previously hit the Duterte administration for not having a clear direction on how to address the COVID-19 pandemic in the country./PN
